[[Albany County, New York|Albany]]{{·}} [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]]{{·}} [[Greene County, New York|Greene]]{{·}} [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]]{{·}} [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]]{{·}} '''''Connecticut county:''''' [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]{{·}} '''''Massachusetts county:''''' [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire]]<ref>''Handybook'', 478.</ref>

[[Albany County, New York|Albany]]{{·}} [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]]{{·}} [[Greene County, New York|Greene]]{{·}} [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]]{{·}} [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]]{{·}} '''''Connecticut county:''''' [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]{{·}} '''''Massachusetts county:''''' [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire]]<ref>''Handybook'', 478.</ref>

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<div style="float: left; width: 147%">

==== Boundary Changes ====

==== Boundary Changes ====

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==== Record Loss ====

==== Record Loss ====

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=== Resources ===

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=== Columbia County New York Genealogy Resources ===

==== Bible Records ====

==== Bible Records ====

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| colspan="3" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*See the [[New York Cemeteries#Online_Resources|New York Cemeteries]] page for details about each site.

| colspan="3" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*See the [[New York Cemeteries#Online_Resources|New York Cemeteries]] page for details about each site.

The Dutch Reformed Church at [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]] has records dating from the 1720s.

The Dutch Reformed Church at [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]] has records dating from the 1720s.

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=====Latter-day Saints (Mormons)=====

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===== Latter-day Saints (Mormons) =====

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:*'''1930-1941''' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hudson District. {{FHL|173661|item|disp=FHL film 1962 Items 1-2}} Records of members could include vital information, baptisms, and other church-related data.

:*'''1930-1941''' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hudson District. {{FHL|173661|item|disp=FHL film 1962 Items 1-2}} Records of members could include vital information, baptisms, and other church-related data.

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=====Catholic=====

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===== Catholic =====

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Ann Mensch's [http://localcatholic.webs.com/newyork.htm Local Catholic Church and Family History &amp; Genealogical Research Guide] is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Columbia County, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Columbia County parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the [[New York Church Records#Roman_Catholic|Diocese of Albany]].<br>

Ann Mensch's [http://localcatholic.webs.com/newyork.htm Local Catholic Church and Family History &amp; Genealogical Research Guide] is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Columbia County, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Columbia County parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the [[New York Church Records#Roman_Catholic|Diocese of Albany]].<br>

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{{NYChurch2|Columbia+county|365291}}

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{{NYChurch2|Columbia+county|365291}}

==== Court Records ====

==== Court Records ====

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==== Genealogy ====

==== Genealogy ====

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:*[http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.columbia/mb.ashx Rootsweb message board ]for {{PAGENAME}} has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.

''Available towns.'' Registers are available for: [[Ancram, New York|Ancram]]{{·}} [[Austerlitz, New York|Austerlitz]]{{·}} [[Canaan, New York|Canaan]]{{·}} [[Chatham, New York|Chatham]]{{·}} [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]]{{·}} [[Clermont, New York|Clermont]]{{·}} [[Copake, New York|Copake]]{{·}} [[Germantown, New York|Germantown]]{{·}} [[Ghent, New York|Ghent]]{{·}} [[Greenport, New York|Greenport]]{{·}} [[Hillsdale, New York|Hillsdale]]{{·}} [[Kinderhook, New York|Kinderhook]]{{·}} [[Livingston, New York|Livingston]]{{·}} [[New Lebanon, New York|New Lebanon]]{{·}} [[Stockport, New York|Stockport]]{{·}} [[Stuyvesant, New York|STuyvesant]]{{·}} [[Taghkanic, New York|Taghkanic]].

''Available towns.'' Registers are available for: [[Ancram, New York|Ancram]]{{·}} [[Austerlitz, New York|Austerlitz]]{{·}} [[Canaan, New York|Canaan]]{{·}} [[Chatham, New York|Chatham]]{{·}} [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]]{{·}} [[Clermont, New York|Clermont]]{{·}} [[Copake, New York|Copake]]{{·}} [[Germantown, New York|Germantown]]{{·}} [[Ghent, New York|Ghent]]{{·}} [[Greenport, New York|Greenport]]{{·}} [[Hillsdale, New York|Hillsdale]]{{·}} [[Kinderhook, New York|Kinderhook]]{{·}} [[Livingston, New York|Livingston]]{{·}} [[New Lebanon, New York|New Lebanon]]{{·}} [[Stockport, New York|Stockport]]{{·}} [[Stuyvesant, New York|STuyvesant]]{{·}} [[Taghkanic, New York|Taghkanic]].

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'''''Regiments.''''' Service men in Delaware County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.<ref>Frederick Phisterer, ''New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed.'' (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). [http://www.archive.org/details/newyorkinwarofre05phisrich Internet Archive digital copy]; {{WorldCat|11490201|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|647247|item|disp=FHL Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p}}.</ref>

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'''''Regiments.''''' Service men in Columbia County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.<ref>Frederick Phisterer, ''New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed.'' (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). [http://www.archive.org/details/newyorkinwarofre05phisrich Internet Archive digital copy]; {{WorldCat|11490201|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|647247|item|disp=FHL Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p}}.</ref>

'''Genealogical Resources''': Click on the town pages and then the Civil War Section. Lists men from that community that served in the Civil War. This is based on a 1878 history by Captain Franklin Ellis.

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==== Naturalization and Citizenship ====

==== Naturalization and Citizenship ====

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:*''Hudson NY Evening Register ''1867-1944

:*''Hudson NY Evening Register ''1867-1944

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[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/ Newspaperarchive.com] ($) has historical newspapers for Pittsfield, Massachusetts newspapers (1858-1977) and North Adams, Massachusetts newspapers (1895-1977) covering local news that included Columbia County residents.

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[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/ Newspaperarchive.com] ($) has historical newspapers for Pittsfield, Massachusetts newspapers (1858-1977) and North Adams, Massachusetts newspapers (1895-1977) covering local news that included Columbia County residents.

*'''1787-1835''' [http://www.americanancestors.org/search.aspx?Ca=094&Da=7 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835] at [http://newyorkancestors.org/ New York Ancestors] ($); includes {{PAGENAME}}.<ref>About Abstracts of Wills, Admins. and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at New York Ancestors, accessed 8 December 2011, http://newyorkancestors.org/.</ref>

*'''1787-1835''' [http://www.americanancestors.org/search.aspx?Ca=094&Da=7 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835] at [http://newyorkancestors.org/ New York Ancestors] ($); includes {{PAGENAME}}.<ref>About Abstracts of Wills, Admins. and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at New York Ancestors, accessed 8 December 2011, http://newyorkancestors.org/.</ref>

The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

:*'''1847''' [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/vitals/rural_repository_1847.htm Marriage Records from the ''Rural Repository'', published at Hudson, Columbia County, New York] at [http://www.usgennet.org/ USGenNe]t - free.<br>

:*'''1847''' [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/vitals/rural_repository_1847.htm Marriage Records from the ''Rural Repository'', published at Hudson, Columbia County, New York] at [http://www.usgennet.org/ USGenNe]t - free.<br>

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:*'''1856–1863''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=49240 ''Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald''] at [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry]– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browseable.<br>

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:*'''1856–1863''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=49240 ''Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald''] at [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry]– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as mid-westerners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also brouseable.<br>

:*'''1864-5, 1874-5''' See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of [[{{PAGENAME}}#Census|Census]] for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.<br>

:*'''1864-5, 1874-5''' See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of [[{{PAGENAME}}#Census|Census]] for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.<br>

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:*'''1874-5''' [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/1875/1875_marriages.htm Marriages from the 1875 State Census, Columbia County, New York] at [http://www.usgennet.org/ USGenNet] - free.<br>

:*'''1874-5''' [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/1875/1875_marriages.htm Marriages from the 1875 State Census, Columbia County, New York] at [http://www.usgennet.org/ USGenNet] - free.<br>

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{{NY Divorce}}

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===== Divorce =====

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{{NY Divorce}}

===== Death =====

===== Death =====

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==== Voting Registers ====

==== Voting Registers ====

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=== Places ===

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=== Columbia County New York Places ===

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{{Columbia County, New York}}

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{{Columbia County, New York}}

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=== Web Sites ===

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=== Columbia County New York Genealogy Websites ===

*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycolumb/ The Columbia County NYGenWeb Project], an member of [[NYGenWeb|The NYGenWeb Project]], an affiliate of [[USGenWeb|The USGenWeb Project]].

*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycolumb/ The Columbia County NYGenWeb Project], an member of [[NYGenWeb|The NYGenWeb Project]], an affiliate of [[USGenWeb|The USGenWeb Project]].

Revision as of 19:54, 2 March 2013

This page describes sources of genealogical data about Columbia County, New York Genealogy families, including links to smaller localities at the bottom of this page. New York-related pages show useful statewide sources. United States pages explain the terminology and contents of genealogical records.

Columbia County New York Historical Facts

Parent County

Neighboring Counties

Boundary Changes

No changes

Record Loss

Columbia County New York Genealogy Resources

Bible Records

1581–1917New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Census

Federal

Deaths are included for the 12 months prior to the census, 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80 beginning 1 June and ending 31 May of the census year.[3]

Basic contents of the records include: Name, sex, age, color, marital status, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. 1870 also has parents' birthplace. 1880 lists how long a resident of the county.

New York State 1865 and 1875 Census Marriage, Mortality; and 1865 Soldier Mortality records:

Images available online at New York State Census, 1865 and New York State Census, 1875. Click on the link to go to the page, then click on the ‘Browse through images’ link and select your county, then select an ancestor's town and browse to the end of the population schedule until you find the Marriage, Mortality, and 1865 soldier mortality schedules.

Includes marriages and deaths for the 12 months prior to the census, ending 1 June of the census year.

Marriage entry content: Husband's name, wife's name, ages and previous marital status, month and day and place of marriage, and church or civil ceremony.

Death entry content: Name, age, sex, color, marital status, month and day of death, native state or country, occupation and cause of death.

Also on microfilm. See the Family History Library line in the above State Census Chart.

Church Records

Church records are good substitutes for birth, marriage, and death information and are most often found on a local city/town or county level. Published and manuscript church records can be found at public, university, and private libraries.

For a brief general history of denominations and a guide to finding various New York denomination's records, see New York Church Records Wiki page.

Dutch Reformed

The Dutch Reformed Church at Claverack has records dating from the 1720s.

Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

1930-1941 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hudson District. FHL film 1962 Items 1-2 Records of members could include vital information, baptisms, and other church-related data.

Court Records

Directories

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

Gazetteers

Genealogy

Rootsweb message board for Columbia County, New York Genealogy has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.

History

Genealogical Resources: Click on the town pages. Brief histories for some of the towns are given. This is based on a 1878 history by Captain Franklin Ellis.

Land and Property

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See New York Land and Property for more details, especially about the papers generated in New York State by large speculative land companies.

Original land records in Columbia County, New York Genealogy began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Maps

Migration

Military

Civil War

Town registers. The New York town clerks kept a bound register of all soldiers from their town serving in the Civil War 1861-1865. Registers are arranged by county, and town. Some town registers are missing. The registers include an index at the start of each town.

Content. Many register entries include full name, residence, date and place of birth, parents names, marital status, date of enlistment and muster and rank, discharges, death, or promotion.

Old Fulton NY Post Cards has the following Columbia County, New York Genealogy newspaper images:

Chatham NY Courier 1867-1967

Chatham NY Republican 1886-1898

Hudson NY Evening Register 1867-1944

Newspaperarchive.com ($) has historical newspapers for Pittsfield, Massachusetts newspapers (1858-1977) and North Adams, Massachusetts newspapers (1895-1977) covering local news that included Columbia County residents.

Obituaries

Periodicals

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Probate Records

Probate records including original estates and wills for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives. See New York Probate Records for more information about using probate records. Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.Record types: Wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distribution.

Probate Petitions

In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004. Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 57.

These petitions are often found in the estate files and can be obtained from the county Surrogate Court.

The petitions for Columbia County, New York Genealogy are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:

Repositories

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Columbia County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.739 A3. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Columbia County HistorianMary J. Howell490 County Route 10Germantown, New York 12526518-828-3442; 518-828-2969(fax)

Archives, Libraries and Museums

ARCHIVES

Columbia County, NY On-Line HistoryOn-Line Historical ArchivesThis is a growing collection of transcripts, indexes, and photographs related to the history of Columbia County, NY. It includes oral histories and folklore, several gazetteers, federal and state censuses, early probates, deeds, private papers, and more.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

There are twelve public libraries in Columbia County New York, one of which is a Branch Library. They belong to the Mid-Hudson Library System that serves the communities of Columbia, Duchess, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster Counties. They share a catalog that includes a sizable collection of Genealogical materials. The shared catalog is found on the library systems main page. For information on the individual libraries in Columbia County, click here.

County Historian's Office

The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

First Columbia County courthouse, Claverack, NY.jpg

Courthouses

The Columbia County Clerk's office has marriage, court, land and naturalization records. The Surrogate court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Columbia County are held, see the Columbia County Courthouse page.

The Columbia County Historical Society is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of Columbia County, NY. The Society owns and operates three historic properties and a museum, open year-round. They include the Columbia County Museum, the James Vanderpoel House, and the Luykas Van Alen House.

Columbia County Museum5 Albany Avenue Kinderhook, NY 12106The Columbia County Museum houses the Columbia County Historical Society offices, research library, collections storage and exhibit space. It appears to be the only museum belonging to the historical society with collections for genealogical research.

Social Groups Online

Taxation

Town Records

Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. Vital records from 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office. For further details, try the links to individual town Wiki pages found in Places. See also:

Gordon L. Remington, New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002). NEHGS online edition; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 D27r. Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.

Vital Records

Vital records of birth, marriage or death were first recorded at the local level in the village clerk, town clerk, or city clerk’s ledger book. If you know where a birth, marriage or death took place, a copy of the certificate or record may be obtained by writing to the town, village or city clerk. See also How to order New York Vital Records or order electronically online.

See the heading Places on this wiki page for links to local community wiki pages and their available records. See New York Vital Records for a discussion about beginning dates and availability of vital records in New York.

Birth

Early births were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording births in 1881. Births were not recorded on the county level.

See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.

Marriage

Early marriages were sometimes recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. In 1880, town clerks were to record the marriage and a copy was sent to the New York State Department of Health (state level). Town clerks continue to record marriages. The marriages in this county were recorded by the county clerk from 1908 until 1934.[9]

1800–1855New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.

1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.7 V2bfqa. Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.

All divorces are handled by the county Supreme Court where the divorce was granted. Divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Contact the County Clerk for information about divorce records.

Divorce judgment papers often include date and place of the marriage and the names and birthdates of any children. Local newspapers may publish notices of divorce actions.

Death

Early deaths were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording deaths in 1881. Deaths were not recorded on the county level.

1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.7 V2bfqa. Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.

1823-1828 Wiles, Harriett M. Marriages and Deaths from the Northern Whig. Published in Hudson, N.Y., 1823-1828. 1952. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Additional resources for Columbia County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Columbia– Vital Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.